Fishing report

Published: October 8, 2013;Last modified: October 8, 2013 05:00AM

Adobe Creek Reservoir/Blue Lake (Kiowa and Bent counties): Fishing from shore is good for channel catfish using a variety of baits. Fishermen have reported catching a few crappie while fishing from a boat using minnows.

Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area/Arkansas River (Lake, Chaffee and Fremont counties): Here’s an update from Greg at ArkAnglers: “With the arrival of high pressure and the clear, dry days of autumn, the unseasonably elevated flows on the Arkansas River have experienced a slow decline toward normal. As of the first of October, we have about 175 CFS in Hayden Meadows, 360 CFS in the Granite Gorge, 489 CFS in Browns Canyon and 514 CFS below Salida. These are high flows for October, the result of a prolonged monsoon season that has soaked the earth thoroughly, the return flows from which will continue until a deep and lasting freeze shuts it down. Meanwhile, many upper basin irrigators are finishing their work for the season, leaving more water in the tributaries to flow through the canyons. As a result, expect higher than normal flows through the rest of the fishing season. During the remaining fall season, four to six weeks depending on the weather, we will also see the brown trout spawn, a slow decline in water temperature, and the completion of our autumnal midge hatches and blue wing olive mayfly emergence. In those intervening weeks, expect strong trout feeding behavior, especially in the afternoons when water temperatures are warmest and mayfly nymphs will be drifting on the current. While it is possible to appeal to a trout’s opportunistic nature at those times, imitation of actual food is a good strategy and any offering should be trailed by a size 18-20 blue wing olive mayfly nymph/emerger.”

Brush Hollow Reservoir (Fremont County): The water level has come up and some boats are able to launch from the boat ramp. However, the water level can fluctuate daily. Consequently, access to the boat ramp may also change rapidly. Fishing has been good for bluegill and a small number of bass have been reported being caught.

Clear Creek Reservoir (Chaffee County): Here is an update from Jerry Hornbuckle: “Please note this report is for the last week of the summer that Clear Creek Reservoir is open to trailered boats. Until early next May the reservoir will be open only to fishing from shore, on the ice, or from watercraft that can be carried in or on a car, in the back of a truck, carried by hand to the water, and that do not use outboard motors. Despite periods of adverse winds and/or weather, fishing was improved over past weeks. From shore, limit catches of rainbow trout using PowerBait took two or three hours. From boats, trolling with night crawlers beneath cowbells did well. Those trolling with lures had success with Panther Martins, Mepps’ spinners, and various small spoons; however, the best results reported were using Tasmanian Devils, the pink or green and yellow color patterns. Other small lures produced some catches but they were smaller in numbers than those reported above. No one reported much success from fly fishing. There were also no reports of landing any tiger muskies or of catching more than the occasional kokanee salmon. Here’s hoping your fall and winter are pleasant; we look forward to seeing you again at Clear Creek Reservoir next Spring.”

Lake Henry (Crowley County): Henry Lake is closed to fishing and all other wildlife-related recreation.

John Martin Reservoir State Park (Bent County): The stilling basin and the Arkansas River below the dam have produced large catfish, saugeye, and striper using minnows and worms. White bass and wiper are being caught by the dozens out of the reservoir on jigs, minnows, crawfish and shrimp. Drum, bluegill, carp and walleye have also been caught in the reservoir, but with varying frequency.

Lake Pueblo State Park (Pueblo County): The off season has officially started. Dwindling crowds, cooling weather and a whole lot less pressure on the fish in both the reservoir and the river means the fishing is turning around. Bass, catfish and trout are all being caught in many different places on the reservoir. Boating seems to be the preferred method, but shore fishermen with patience are being rewarded as well. Don’t forget that the old Highway 96 parking lot is back open for the winter months. On the river the flows continue to fluctuate, meaning that, depending on the water level, either dry flies or nymphs/lures are the best way to go. As the water on the Arkansas gets higher and cloudier, get the tackle down in front of the mouths of the fish for the best results.

Lathrop State Park, Martin Lake and Horseshoe Lake (Huerfano County): The fishing is picking up on both Martin and Horseshoe. The pike bite is starting to pick up a bit, along with the bass bite as the weather cools off. Overnight fishing isn’t producing quite as much as it was earlier in the summer, but both lakes fishing is picking up. This is a reminder, though, that if you are fishing overnight, you must be actively fishing and not camping on shore.

Lake Meredith (Crowley County): Meredith Reservoir is closed to fishing and all other wildlife-related recreation.

Mt. Elbert Forebay (Lake County): Fishing conditions at Mt. Elbert Forebay over the past week remained slow. A majority of the shore anglers reported not landing a single trout. Near the outlet of the reservoir, anglers typically experience tremendous success on either Gulp Salmon Eggs or pink PowerBait. Fishing the bottom of the lake with worms near the inlet can be very productive. Boat anglers may want to explore using either worms for rainbow trout, or jigs coupled with sucker meat for lake trout. Most of the catches comprised of 8 to 12 inch rainbow trout.

Nee Gronde Reservoir (Kiowa County): Carp are biting well, catfish are fair to good. Slow for all other species. Water levels continue to decline and temps are in the mid 70s. Access is difficult around much of the lake due to low water and muddy shorelines.

Rampart Reservoir (El Paso County): The road across the dam is now open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sunday. It will not be open during the week. Motorized boats are not allowed across the dam and cannot be launched from the boat ramp. Fishing continues to be fair to good for cutbows and rainbows.

Turquoise Lake (Lake County): Catch rate is still improving with baits from the shore and is rated fair to good. Boat ramp closed after Sept. 30.

Trinidad Lake State Park (Las Animas County): he water is beginning to clear up. We are starting to get more reports of the trout biting. The catfish are biting on chicken liver. Two 30-inch catfish were caught last week.

Twin Lakes Reservoir (Lake County): Throughout the past week, fishing conditions at Twin Lakes Reservoir were good from shore. A majority of shore anglers fishing near the power plant reported landing multiple fish with very few anglers experiencing minimal success. Between 100 to 200 feet away from the power plant, rainbow trout went for either Mepps spinners or pink PowerBait. Most of the landed rainbow trout ranged from 8 to 12 inches. Once Oct. 1 arrives, the hours for boat inspections will be from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Dexter Point boat ramp will remain open until Oct. 21. Boat anglers targeting rainbow trout may want to consider trolling with Tasmanian Devil lures near the shorelines of the lower lake. Sometimes employing baits such as PowerBait and worms from a boat can be very productive at the lower lake.